Text Size

Which president liked to skinny dip in the Potomac? (John Quincy Adams)

“Because we adore the presidency but not always individuals presidents, we as a nation are continuously fascinated with who each of these men (so far, only men) were before the office, are while in the office, and become after the office,” writes National Portrait Gallery Director Emeritus Marc Pachter in the book’s introduction. “It is hard to imagine a more interesting fate for an American citizen. And so we want to know everything about our presidents and continue to talk about them, with reverence and irreverence, even after they are long gone.”

Some questions aren’t nearly as difficult, like, “Which president was a peanut farmer?” (Carter), “Who was the tallest president?” (Lincoln), “Who was the first African-American president?” (Obama).

But if you’re also able to correctly answer a question like, “Which president did not vote until he was in his sixties?” the Smithsonian might appreciate your resume.